Olympics

Canadian freeskier Yuki Tsubota injured in crash

Canada's Yuki Tsubota crashes on her last run in the women's freestyle skiing slopestyle final at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Feb. 11, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (Andy Wong, AP)

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia — A jubilant crowd fell eerily silent Tuesday as Canadian freeskier Yuki Tsubota crashed hard on the final jump of the slopestyle course, sliding down the steep landing. She laid motionless as medical crews rushed to her aid. Almost immediately, they brought out a rescue litter and hauled her away, running through the crowd.

The 20-year-old, competing in the slopestyle finals of freeskiing's Olympic debut at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, was hoping to better her sixth-place ranking in her final run. Losing speed in slushy snow as temperatures warmed, the Whistler resident came in for a switch landing but came up short, hitting the knuckle.

Peter Judge, head of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, said initial assessments showed she suffered facial injuries and a possible fractured jaw.

"We don't know for sure just yet," Judge said. "There is no concern about concussions or other issues."

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